The Mercedes Formula 1 racer, George Russell, mentioned that Lewis Hamilton’s shift to Ferrari for the 2025 season was beneficial for everyone involved. He also voiced his support for Andrea Kimi Antonelli, his replacement, encouraging him to overcome recent challenges.
Hamilton secured six of his seven global championships with Mercedes over a period of 13 years before deciding to join Ferrari last winter. His motivation was to embark on a new challenge later in his career with the renowned Italian team.
Mercedes then looked to Antonelli, their young talent, and expedited his progression through the single-seater ranks to partner with Russell in 2025.
Hamilton’s departure left significant vacancies at Brackley. Russell is now seen as the primary leader of the team, supporting Antonelli as he gains experience alongside the seasoned British racer.
In an exclusive interview with Autosport, Russell shared his perspective on the changes within the team following Hamilton’s move: “The team atmosphere is different now. However, the main focus is always on performance.”
“We started very strongly, but our performance has since declined. I hope we can recover, but any change in an organization has its advantages and disadvantages.”
“The change mainly concerned Lewis. It’s a positive move for him and a beneficial reset for our team. Sometimes, a change is necessary to get back on the right path.”
Russell took third in Hungary as Mercedes made a big step towards overcoming its recent struggles.
Photo by: Sam Bagnall / Sutton Images via Getty Images
Hamilton’s start with Ferrari has been more challenging than the 40-year-old expected. One highlight was a dominant sprint race victory in China, but he is still adapting to the new environment and equipment. The seven-time world champion is particularly focused on being ready for 2026.
Antonelli has also faced expected challenges during his initial season. A rear suspension change in Imola negatively impacted his confidence on most tracks.
Mercedes reverted to the older suspension setup for the Hungary race, which helped Russell secure a podium finish. Russell expects Antonelli to regain his form after the break. He also feels the criticism of the young driver is excessive, especially since Mercedes has collectively regressed with the W16.
“The reality is, his performance difference compared to me is consistent. I think that’s often overlooked,” he clarified. “In Canada, I achieved pole position while he qualified fourth, but he was only six tenths behind. In Belgium, he didn’t make it past Q1 while I reached Q3, but he was only three tenths slower.”
“People focus on the overall results, but he is still improving, even as our team’s performance has declined. In the current competition, a tenth of a second can change your grid position by six or seven places, whereas previously, it would only affect your position by one place.”
“Both Kimi and I have taken a similar step back in recent races.”
George Russell, Mercedes, Andrea Kimi Antonelli, Mercedes
Photo by: Sam Bagnall / Sutton Images via Getty Images
Russell stated that while the developmental setback for Mercedes wasn’t “ideal,” he doesn’t anticipate any effects on their 2026 project because most of the Brackley team had already started working on next year’s design.
“Obviously, the concept will be entirely different next year. However, it’s still crucial that our people feel creative and confident, and that our simulations and tools work correctly,” he added. “Ultimately, this sport relies on decisions and people. People create the simulations and everything else, so we need them to be at their best.”
“Of course, the recent drop in performance isn’t ideal, but the truth is that 95 percent of the workforce is already focused on 2026. This means that the team isn’t as emotionally affected as they might otherwise be.”
